As shopping habits change, so are requirements for new developments in Ross Township

ROSS TOWNSHIP, Pa. — In 25 years, McKnight Road might not look the way it does now, with shops everywhere you look.

Ross Township Commissioners realize there might not be a need for so much retail, so in the last two years, they have changed their zoning ordinances. Now, new developments have to be mixed-use, meaning they have to have housing, office or restaurant space, in addition to retail on the same lot.

For example, the wooded property at the corner of McKnight Road and McIntyre Square is marketed as a mixed-use development.

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"We’re trying to be very flexible. We know this is important to our township to have a good tax base like we have on McKnight Road, and we want to make sure we keep that today and in the future," Steve Korbel, president of the Ross Township Board of Commissioners, said.

The reason for the change?

"We do a lot more online shopping than we’ve ever done," Kate Hale, a mother of three, said.

Channel 11 News talked with Hale as she was loading groceries into the back of her car, with two of her youngsters in tow. She said most of her non-grocery shopping is done online now.

Jason’s Deli recently closed at the Block Northway and Kirkland’s is on its way out. The Pier 1 Imports down the road is also closing its doors.

Korbel said they are all national chains having issues.

"I’ve worked retail a long time, and closing a store is never easy. It’s really sad. So, hopefully the things that are coming out will stay longer than the stores that are going," Jordana Lenz, a shopper, said.

Another Broken Egg Cafe is going in next to the old Kirkland’s at Block Northway, and the company told Channel 11 News it plans to open May 18.

Dozens of new businesses, restaurants, housing developments coming to Cranberry Dozens of new businesses, restaurants, housing developments coming to Cranberry

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